Bromelain
50mg per servingPineapple-derived enzyme with dual proteolytic and anti-inflammatory activity.
Overview
What it is
Bromelain is a mixture of proteolytic enzymes extracted from the stem of the pineapple plant (Ananas comosus). Unlike fungal-derived proteases, bromelain is a cysteine protease that works through a different catalytic mechanism, providing complementary protein digestion. It is active across a broad pH range (3.0–8.0), meaning it can function in both the acidic stomach and the more alkaline small intestine. Beyond protein digestion, bromelain has well-documented anti-inflammatory properties.
Mechanism
How it works
Bromelain cleaves peptide bonds in proteins through its cysteine protease mechanism, breaking down dietary proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids. Its broad pH activity means it begins working in the stomach and continues through the small intestine. Independently, bromelain reduces inflammation by modulating prostaglandin synthesis, reducing bradykinin levels, and inhibiting thromboxane A2 — providing anti-inflammatory effects that complement its digestive function.
Why it helps
Key benefits
Breaks down dietary proteins through a mechanism complementary to fungal proteases
Active across the full GI pH range (stomach through intestine)
Reduces intestinal inflammation via prostaglandin modulation
Supports recovery from heavy protein-rich meals
Evidence
The research
Bromelain: biochemistry, pharmacology and medical use
Maurer HR. · Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (2001)
Comprehensive review confirmed bromelain's dual role as a digestive enzyme and anti-inflammatory agent, active across pH 4.5–9.5, with oral bioavailability of up to 40% and retention of enzymatic activity throughout the GI tract. GRAS status per FDA.
Proteolytic activity and immunogenicity of oral bromelain within the gastrointestinal tract of mice
Hale LP, Greer PK, Trinh CT, James CL. · International Immunopharmacology (2005)
Oral bromelain formulated with antacid retained proteolytic activity throughout the entire GI tract, with sufficient colon concentrations to remove bromelain-sensitive molecules from leukocytes and epithelial cells.
Anti-inflammatory properties of a proprietary bromelain extract after in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion
Bottega R, Persico I, De Seta F, et al. · International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology (2021)
Bromelain retained significant anti-inflammatory activity after exposure to simulated stomach and intestinal conditions, reducing inflammatory markers in AGS, Caco-2, and SW1353 cell lines — confirming its properties survive GI transit.
Dosage
50mg per serving
Why this dose
Bromelain at 50mg delivers a minimum of 120 GDU (gelatin digesting units) of proteolytic activity. This dose provides meaningful supplemental protein digestion and anti-inflammatory support without overlapping excessively with the 150mg protease blend. The GDU activity, not the milligram weight, determines efficacy.
The formula
Why it matters
Protein is the hardest macronutrient to digest, requiring multiple types of enzymes working at different pH levels. The protease blend in Feast handles the bulk of protein digestion via fungal-derived enzymes, but bromelain adds a mechanistically distinct protease that works through different cleavage sites. Its anti-inflammatory activity provides an additional benefit that pure digestive enzymes do not — helping calm the intestinal inflammation that heavy meals can trigger.
Works with
Protease Blend
Bromelain (cysteine protease) and the protease blend (serine/aspartic proteases) cleave proteins at different sites, providing more complete protein digestion than either alone.
Curcumin Phytosome
Both provide anti-inflammatory activity in the GI tract — bromelain via prostaglandin modulation, curcumin via NF-kB inhibition — through independent pathways.